Fire guts home on I-40 in Amarillo, damages another

An early-morning fire destroyed a home near Interstate 40 West on Monday, damaged a nearby house and prompted the evacuation of another home, the Amarillo Fire Department said.

At 6:10 a.m., firefighters arrived at 1503 I-40 West and found an unoccupied, single-story residence engulfed in flames.

A large number of items inside the home made it difficult for crews to search and extinguish the blaze, which was called under control at 8:17 a.m. — more than two hours after firefighters arrived — a news release said.

The Amarillo Fire Marshal’s Office said the fire started in the living room area of the home, but it ruled the cause of the fire as undetermined.

The home was a total loss, AFD said. The property has an appraised value of $45,000, Potter-Randall Appraisal District Records show.

The home to the west, at 1505 I-40 West, received exterior damage from the fire, estimated at $10,000. It was unoccupied. The home to the east, at 1501 I-40 West, was not damaged but was evacuated as a precaution.